Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-05-29

Feeling somewhat happier, or at any rate
calmer, in this determination, she rose to
return to the noisy camp, extending he
walk, however, by making u detour toward
the Heidelberg road, for she was anxious
to be as long alone as she could. She had
been walking some ten minute when she
caught sight OF d cart that seemed familiar
10 her, with three horses harnesSed in font
of il and one tied on behind, which were
also familiar. There was q lot OF men
walking alongside of the cart, all talking
eagerly. She halted to let the little pro-
cession 60 by, when suddenly she per-
ceived John Mel among the men and re-
cognized the Zulu MOuti on the box. There
was the man whom she had just vowed
never to see again, and the sight of him
seemed 10 take all her strength ont of
her. SO that she felt inclined to
sink voluntarily upon the veldt. His
sudden appearance was almost uncanny
in the sharpness of its illustration Of
the impotence in the hands of fate. She
telt it then; all in an instant 1t seemed to
be borne in upon her mind that she could
not help herself, but was only the instru-
ment in the hands of a superior power
| whose will she was fulfilling through the
workings of her passion and to whom her
| individual fate was a matter Of little mo-
ment. 1t was inconclusiVe reasoning and
p~erilous doctrine but il must be allowed
that the circumstances gave 1t the color OF
truth. And, after all, the border liue be-
tween iatalism and free will has never
quite authoritatiyely settled, even by st.
Paul, so perhaps she was right. Mankind
| does not like TO admit it, but 1t Is, at the
least, n question whether We can oppose
our little will against the forces OF the
universal law or derange the details OF the
u~nvaring plan to suit the petty wants aud
hopes of individual mortality. Jess was
a clever woman, but it would take a wiser
head than hers TO know where or when TO
draw that red line across the writings OF
our life.
On came the cart and the knot of men,
and then suddenly John looked up and
SAW her looking at him with those dark
eyes that did, indeed, seem at times as
though they were they were the windows
of her soul. He turned and said some
thing to his companions and to the Aulu
Moauti, who went Onwith the cart, and
then came toward her smiling and with
outstretched hand.
'How do you do, Jess?' he said. $50
| have found you all right?'
She took his hand answered, almost
angrily, "Why have you come? Why did
you leave Bessie and my uncle?:"
81 came because | was sent, and also
because / wished tn. ] wanted 10 get you
back home before Pretoria was hesieged.'
"You must have been mad! How could
you expect TO get back? We shall both be
shut up here together now.'
$50 it appears. Well, things might be
worse" he added cheerfully.
~ do NO think that anything could be
worse" she answered, with Il stamp of her
foot, and then, quite thrown Oft her bal
ance, burst incOntinently into Il flood OF
tears.
John Mel was u very simple minded
man, and il never struck him to attribute
her grief to any other cause than anxiety
at the state of affairs and at her incarcera-
ton for an indefinite period in q besieged
town that ran daily risks OF being taken
vi ct arms. Still he was a little hurt at
the manner of his reception after his long
and p~erilOus journey, which is not, per
hapS, to he wondered at.
i'Wen, JESS" he said, II think that you
might speak a little more kindly TO me,
consideriug-consideringall things. There,
don't cry, they are all right at MooiiOn-
tcin, and / dare say that we shall get back
there somehow sometime or other. ! had
a nice business to get here at all, can tell
yOu."
She suddenly stopped weeping aud
smiled. her tears passing away like a sum
mpr storm. ''HOw did you get through?
she asked. Tell me all ahont it, Capt.
Neil;' aud accordingly he did.
She listened N s'lgrc, while be sEetrhcd
the chief events of Lis Journey, and when
he had done sue spoke in lite a changed
tone.
at is very good and kind of you to have
risked YOUR liz like this f. ne. nulY |
wonder that you did not ali Of Sou see that
it would be of 10 use. We shHll both he
shut up here together now that ~ al, and
that will be very sad for you and Bessie. y
ooh. 80 you have hear Of our engage
ment :" he said.
Eyes, | rot RcSsic'S letter about . couple
of hours ago, and | congratulate you both
very much. | think that you will have
the sweetest AMI l~uNrllrst wife in south
! Africa, Captain Mil and ! think
| that BESSIE will ha, a husband any
woman might BE- pA.Id ot.' and she
half bowed and half COurtesiel 30
him as she said it, 18th II graceful little air
of dignity that wa very taking.
''TI.nk you," hc sad, imply; ives, l
think | am a very lucky fellow"
"And now" she said, 1--WE had hetter go
and see about the cart. IOu must b. very
tired and hungry and they started.
4 few minutes walk brought them 10
the cart, which Mouti had outspInned
close to Mrs. Nevillc's wagon, where Jess
and her friends We're living, and the first
person they saw was Mrs. Neville herself.
| She was a good, mOthcrly, colonial woman,
accustomed TO a rough life, and not easily
di,turbedb by IN emergency like the present.
My goodness, Cap. Nicl!' she cried,
q soon AZ Jess haC introduced him.
Well, you are plucky Ia have forced
| yuur way through al those hnrrd Boursl
/ an ,nrr ! wOnder That they didnot shoot
you %. beat you to death with s~I.mhOcks,
you brutts. Not That there Is much use
il YOU coming, for you vii! never lie
able - ge, Jess back till Sir GeuTgi COlley
relieves us, aui that cant bC for two
months, they say. We'll, there is one
thing, Jess will he sble TO sleep in the cart
now, and you can get nj Of the patrol
tents and sleep alongside. 1t won't he
yuite proper, perhaps, but in these tiuIes
we can't stop TO considerprOp!iety. There,
there, you 90 off to the governor. lie will
be glad enough to see you, I'll be bound.
| saw him at the other end of tbu camp,
there, i've minute ago, and we will have
the cart arranged and see all about it -
Thu adjured, John dep3 tel, and WHEN
h, ret rued llli an hour afte 5ard Iav-
In; told llg v. Itful tale, VIII a di, not,
.rYver, con ey any int)rIlat' n of lsne-
lT-l value, L. wa reioiccd to nd IT,, pro.
cess II getting things Straight WA in
god lrogrets. What YES better ii,
Jess had fried Inn u bsc.,t TX over the
camp hire, and vas now employed in s,ry-
ing it on q little table by thU WACO. lie
| sat down on q camp stool and ate b. meal
heartily enough, while Jess waited on him